Hong Kong: Gateway to Asia – What to Expect at Food Expo PRO 2025?

12 April 2025

Interview with Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC

by Anna Dąbrowska

1. What are the main goals and expectations for Food Expo PRO 2025 in terms of developing the food industry in the region?

Positioned strategically at the heart of Asia, coupled with its exceptional logistics services and adept supply chain management, Hong Kong serves as a promising platform for global food importers and distributors to extend their reach into markets across Mainland China and the broader Asian region. As a renowned culinary capital of Asia, Hong Kong is also home to a thriving food services industry that captivates locals and visitors alike. The city had six of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and 79 Michelin starred restaurants in 2024 and continues to excel

In addition, Hong Kong serves as a pivotal hub for fresh fruit trading. With a population of 7.5 million, the city primarily re-exports the majority of its imported fruits, mostly to Mainland China, retaining approximately 538,000 tons in 2024. Notably, apples stand out as the most popular fruit among residents, making up 20.8% of retained fruit imports. This is particularly significant given that apples are one of Poland's key export products, highlighting a promising opportunity for enhanced trade collaboration.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Food Expo PRO aims to strengthen Hong Kong's position as a business hub for the food industry in Mainland China, Asia, and the world. It provides a one-stop business platform that helps F&B industry players explore opportunities, build connections and foster innovation.

In 2024, the Food Expo PRO and the concurrent Hong Kong International Tea Fair welcomed some 900 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions. The two trade fairs also saw some 20,500 trade buyers from 60 countries and regions.Buyers outside Hong Kong mainly came from Mainland China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand.The fairs also received European buyers from Italy, Poland, Russia and the United Kingdom, as well as those from Iran, the UAE and the US,reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a major food and beverage trading hub in the region.

The next Food ExpoPRO will be held from 14-16 August 2025 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

2. Are there any new thematic zones or innovative initiatives planned for this year’s edition of the trade fair?
3. What are the key trends and innovations in the food industry that Food Expo PRO 2025 observes?

The Expo features current food trends and market needs. Major exhibitor categories include Food & Beverage Products, Food Packaging, Labeling& Logistic Services, Food Processing Products, Machinery & Related Services, Food Science & Technology, and Halal Food & Beverage Products.

Food Expo PRO 2025 will continue to expand the halal food sector. Building on its inauguration in 2024, the Halal Food zone helps to diversify exhibitors’ export markets and establish Hong Kong's role in facilitating Halal food trade in the region. Last year we had 100 exhibitors featuring a diverse variety of Halal certified products ranging from snacks, milk products, sauces, desserts, instant noodles to fishes. To better promote the potential of halal food sector, representative from The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong, the sole Hong Kong Halal certificate issuing board, was invited to deliver a sharing session on the Halal market. The CEO of Halal Development Corporation Berhad, a government-backed industry promotional body in Malaysia, also shared the overall Halal market landscape to illustrate the promising outlook and insights for Hong Kong to better develop in the realm.

As a pioneer in the F&B industry, the Expo has always been keeping a close eye on several key trends and innovation in order to capture the evolving dynamics of the food industry:

Health and wellness continue to shape Asia's food and beverage industry, with a growing emphasis on overall well-being driving demand for foods that nourish both body and mind. Food Expo PRO will also spotlight fruits, green and organic foods, as well as functional foods offering additional health benefits and nutrition.

In addition, the Expo will continue to foster advancements in food technology by engaging with more food-tech companies and start-ups in response to the emerging trends:

Euromonitor reports point out that plant-based alternatives are in emerging stages in Asia and set to gain traction. Innovation and R&D are important to localise global efforts that will attract both flexitarians and vegetarians.

According to Statista, revenue in the Meat substitutes market amounts to US$ 11.34bn in 2025.The market is expected to grow annually by 8.66% in 2025-2030.In global comparison, most revenue is generated from Mainland China.

Soft food technology which helps elderly regain joy of eating will also be showcased at the Expo, capture the rising opportunities in the silver economy through evolving technology.

Fusion flavors are becoming a standout in Asia's food and beverage industry, and Food Expo PRO provides a platform for industry players to explore diverse cultural inspirations. In 2024, Food Expo PRO welcomed exhibitors from 26 countries and regions who showcased the newest food trends, services and technology from around the world. Featuring 20 pavilions from neighbouring countries, including Japan and Korea, ASEAN countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, countries further afield such as Mexico and Poland, and Mainland China’s diverse provinces including Fujian, Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan, Zhejiang.

The Food Tech Symposium will run again and bring together thought leaders and pioneers in the field to discuss the latest technological advancements and their potential impact on the food industry.

The synergy with the concurrent Tea Fair further multiplies business prospects through increased buyer traffic and cross-category networking, offering exhibitors and buyers an enriched trade experience.

Lastly, there is also synergy from the concurrent public fairs, Food Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo, and Home Delights Expo, which have drawn over 500,000 visits in 2024. Opening a public day at Food Expo PRO offers exhibitors a unique opportunity to test new markets and engage directly with consumers brought from the public fairs. This interaction allows businesses to gather valuable feedback on their products, understand consumer preferences, and identify emerging trends. By connecting with a diverse audience, exhibitors can enhance brand visibility, build customer relationships, and ultimately refine their offerings to better meet market demands.

Through these initiatives, Food Expo PRO 2025 aims to serve as a comprehensive platform for showcasing cutting-edge developments in both food and food technology.

4. How does the new “EXHIBITION+” format combine the physical exhibition with the online Click2Match platform, and what benefits does it offer to participants?

‘EXHIBITION+’ is a hybrid exhibition model integrating online-and-offline trade marketplace.

With EXHIBITION+, exhibitors and buyers can interact on the fair website before and after the physical fair. Apart from meeting the physical buyers during the fair, they can actively search for business targets through the AI & big data-driven Click2Match platform and conduct meetings with potential leads. Further meetings can be scheduled and conducted beyond fair period.

Buyers can also scan QR codes at exhibitor booths using the Scan2Match service to bookmark and engage with their favourite exhibitors beyond fair hours and maximise business connections and opportunities.

The EXHIBITION+ hybrid model seamlessly integrates the in-person experience with the Click2Match online platform. This combination allows participants to enjoy the dynamic atmosphere of a physical exhibition while leveraging the global reach of digital networking regardless of geographic boundaries.

In 2024, more than 1,400 business meeting were successfully conducted during the Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair.

5. What actions are HKTDC taking to attract international exhibitors and buyers to participate in Food Expo PRO 2025?

HKTDC is committed to promoting the Food Expo PRO on a global scale through targeted outreach programs, strategic partnerships, and online-offline marketing campaigns, including digital marketing, SEM campaign, promotion in industry trade media, outdoor advertisements and more.

Subject to specific requirements and parameters, we provide travel incentives including hotel accommodation and discounted airfares to encourage exhibitors and buyers from key markets to come to Hong Kong to participate in the fair.

Backed by HKTDC’s decades of experience in business matching and deep industry knowledge, our experienced team of Business Matching specialists supported by more than 50 HKTDC offices worldwide, offer customised matching service dedicated to help the exhibitors and buyers to find business partners and facilitate trade between Hong Kong and the world. Our offices regularly organise roadshows, seminars, and networking events in key markets around the globe, connecting with local businesses communities to showcase the strengths of Hong Kong as a premier trading hub, as well as to highlight the unique advantages of our trade fair platforms.

To facilitate broader international participation, the HKTDC actively cultivates strong relationships with government agencies, trade promotion organisations, and industry associations worldwide. We place particular emphasis on partnerships within Belt and Road regions, exploring opportunities for funding initiatives and logistical support for their overseas promotional activities, making our fairs more accessible and attractive to SMEs.

6. How does the trade fair support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the food industry?

HKTDC trade fairs offer value for money services and high value-added opportunities for SMEs. We provide cost-effective participation packages that include booth space, promotional opportunities, and access to business matching services. These services provide SMEs with significant returns on investment, helping them to maximise their marketing budgets and achieve better outcomes from their participation.

ASEAN and RECEP remain to be our focus. Building on the participation of nine ASEAN members and 13 RCEP economies in the 2024 edition, efforts will be made to expand the scale of participation from these countries. This initiative aims to bring a more diverse array of products and solutions to the fair, while also looking to introduce exhibitors from new participating countries, enriching the Expo's global representation.

The Food Expo PRO offers participants a critical platform to expand their market presence in Asia, and engage with industry leaders. Here are some success stories that illustrate the opportunities available at the Food Expo PRO:

- “This Expo has raised the profile of Polish food industry and enhanced our food companies’ expansion in the Asian market. Our successful showcase also encourages overseas food companies to explore business opportunities in Poland. In 2024, we have again established contact with many new buyers from different markets including Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Australia, Egypt and UAE. We are pleased with the strong response and look positively ahead to conclude new business development.” – by Organic Farming and Food Quality Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Poland (exhibitor)

- Aomori prefecture is making a strong presence here again this year to promote a rich variety of quality food from 14 Aomori food producers. Products include fresh fruits, apple jelly and frozen seafood. We’ve received enquiry from many buyers including those from Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, India, New Zealand and Europe. A Hong Kong trading company is negotiating to purchase apple jelly and apple baumkuchen while an Indian buyer indicated an intent to distribute Aomori apples. The Expo opens up a lot of new business opportunities in Hong Kong and other markets.” – by Department of Tourism, Trade, Flights and International Exchange, Aomori Prefectural Government (exhibitor)

We provide different packages for participation, enable matchmaking services, and organise seminars tailored to SMEs.Our focus is on building an inclusive environment where smaller businesses can thrive alongside established brands, fostering a spirit of collaboration and growth.

About Food Expo PRO:

Date/Venue: 14-16 August 2025 (HKCEC); 7-23 August 2025 (Click2Match)

Website: https://www.hktdc.com/event/foodExpopro/en

Success stories: https://www.hktdc.com/event/foodExpopro/en/success-stories

Press info.: https://www.hktdc.com/event/foodExpopro/en/press-release

Trade buyers can register for FREE admission badge: https://bit.ly/4jH41Xd